Sir Julius to contest election next year

New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan says he will contest the seat in next year’s general election. The 77-year-old former prime minister, who first entered politics in the Second House of Assembly in 1968, said last Friday that he still had a lot to offer New Ireland and Papua New Guinea and would contest the provincial seat. Sir Julius was prime minister from 1980-1984 and 1994-1997. After the Sandline Crisis of 1997, he lost his seat and was out of politics for 10 years until 2007, when he made a comeback and has held the New Ireland governorship since. “Why do you ask that question? Do you think that I’m not fit enough to work?” Sir Julius said when asked if he would contest in 2017, given that Sir Michael Somare, who turned 80 this year, will not be contesting in 2017. “You don’t look at the age. “After all these (years), do you think this ticker is still functioning? “That’s what you judge.” Sir Julius said he had a lot of experience of the sufferings of the people. “I still think I’m still fit enough (to be a politician),” he said. “I have a reconstructed knee and a neck (problem) but that doesn’t affect my ticker. “I’m going (for 2017).”